Reduced incidence of Marek's disease gross lymphomas in T-cell-depleted chickens.

Abstract

Chickens of line 7, highly susceptible to Marek's disease (MD), were depleted of T-cells by neonatal thymectomy, total-body gamma-irradiation, and multiple injections with antithymocyte serum. In two replicate experiments, significantly fewer gross lymphomas were present in T-cell-depleted chickens than in intact or in T-cell-depleted, reconstituted hatchmates; these findings provided evidence that T-cells may be the principal target for MD virus (MDV) transformation, T-cell depletion was not complete, and the presence of microscopic lesions in T-cell-depleted chickens was attributed to residual T-cells. Ten lymphomas from intact chickens and 2 lymphomas from a T-cell-depleted chicken were examined for cellular composition. All lymphomas consisted predominantly of T-cells. The results of this and other published studies indicated that T-cells may have a dual role in MD; They may serve as a target for lymphoma formation by MDV and also may participate in immune surveillance against the disease in resistant chickens.

• Authors: J M Sharma, K Nazerian, R L Witter
• Journal: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (J Natl Cancer Inst) Vol. 58 Issue 3 Pg. 689-92 (Mar 1977) ISSN: 0027-8874 [Print] United States
• PMID: 190413 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Animals
• B-Lymphocytes
• Chickens
• Herpesvirus 2, Gallid
• Leukocyte Count
• Lymphocyte Depletion
• Marek Disease (etiology, immunology, pathology)
• Neoplasms, Experimental (etiology, immunology, pathology)
• Spleen (cytology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology, pathology)
• Thymus Gland (immunology)